Derby’s Mackworth Community Centre opening soon

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Both young people and older residents in Derby will be able to enjoy the benefits of the £500,000 Mackworth Youth and Community Centre which is to be opened for regular use during the Easter holidays.

The money for the building came from the Government's Youth Opportunity Fund with the aim of trying to ensure that young people have somewhere to spend their time. Derby City Council's youth service took over the building from the Mackworth Community Association to carry out the improvements.

People in the Derby community have been visiting the centre, in Prince Charles Avenue, ahead of the opening to see how it is looking after several helped choose colours and designs.

But both young people and older residents will be able to share the place, with a youth club held on a couple of nights in the week and bowls, bingo and various other meetings taking place during the day.

The centre has a large central social space which could be used for discos, meetings, carpet bowls or indoor sports.It also has a pool table, plasma TV screens, computers, a kitchen and extensive storage. The place has been fully fitted with maple-coloured doors and woodwork and painted in pastel shades of lilac, blue, green and a more vivid orange.

Some of the colours were chosen by youth club members, who meet up the road at Derby College at the moment.The youth club is expected to be open on Monday, Friday and Saturday evenings.

May Spooner, chairman of Mackworth Community Association Derby, has been involved with the original centre since it was built in the 1970s.

She said: "This refurbishment was much-needed. Before this, it was drab and run-down.

"Improving the place was an offer we couldn't refuse. It's fantastic and great that everyone has had a say in what it will be used for and how it looks."